Kinetoscope.



No. 865,106. PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907. B. H. KELLER.

KINETOSGOPE. API LmATIoN FILED FEB. s. 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

vwentoa;

I attorney v B. H. KELLER.

KINETOSGOIE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. a. 1907.

PATENTED SEPT. a, 1907.

5 SHEETSSHEET 2.

3X3 in one:

a/ m (4% I eta-M B. H. KELLER. KINETOSGOZPEp APPLI OATION FILED FEB. 8.1907.

PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

anvenioz B. H. KELLER.

KINETOSCOPE. APPLIOATION FILED FEB. s. 1907.

No. 865,106. PATENTED SEPT. a, 1907.

' 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

PATENTED SEPT. 3, 1907.

a SHEETS-SHEET 6.

B. H. KELLER. KINETOSUOPE. APPLICATION FILED THE. 8. 1 07.

Witnzooe o BOYD KELLER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

specification of Letters Patent.

KINETOSGOPE.

,Patented Sept. 3, 1907.

Application filed February 8,1907.- Serial No- 356.467.

To all'wkoin it may concern: Be it known that LBoYn H. Knuinmm citizenof the United States, residing at New York, in the boxough of Manhattan,and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inKinetoscopes, of which the following is aspecificution.

My invention relstes to certain new and useful improvements inkinetoscopes, or machines primarily designed for exhibiting a. seriesof'pictures representing MUY'QSSil/C phases of motion in such manner,rate, and

r -fer of succession as to produce the illusi animated picture. 1

My invention belongs to 'that class of picturc-ex-' hihit-ing machinesin which a continuous film is used bearing a series of pictures ofsuccessive phases of motion, which pictures are successively l'n'oughtinto view or into the field of a lens and by rays of light are projectedupon uscreen or other surface, in amanner I and by menus well known inthis art.

The essential objects of the present invention aroz--- 1st. To providean improved and simple mcuns for lifting 2). closure or light cut-offand maintaining the same "open during the period the machine-is inmotion but which closure zmtoi'nnticallycovers the light aperture whenthe machine stops from any cause; and thereby protects the nowstationary film from the injurious effects (if the intense heat to whichit would otherwise be subjected. 2nd. To provide improved means.udjust-able relative to the tixcd portion of the frumc, in I h ismounted the rot-try shutter, whereby the ro may he centered relative tothe light aperture. To provide an improved rotary shutter with radialarms and usolid segment with perforations so arranged El st the usualobjectionable flickering effect upon the canvas or screen is nearly, ifnot quite entirely overcome. 4th.'ln providing the pressure rolls forthe film with spring means for positively holding the rolls in contact,or out of contact with the film. th. To provide an iin 'novcd form ofspiral gearing for transmitting motion to the several parts of thenuichioc.

(Stln In providing the reels for the film with a. spring hitch adoptedto engage the reels to hold thc lattcr in place. I

With these and other objects in view, my consists of the parts and theconstructions and combinations of parts which I will hereinafterdescribe nod claim.

on of an In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specificationand in which similar reference characters indicate like parts inthoseveral VlPWHF-lflglllfl l, is u.

- side elevation of n kinetoscopo or like machine embodyinginyinvention. Fig. 2, is at front. elevation on on cnlurgcd scale of thefilm feeding and projecting portion of the apparatus, showing the spoolsomitted.'

invention Fig. 3, is adelevation of' one side of the machine of Fig. 2.Fig. 4, is it vertical sectional view on the line x9: of Fig. 2. Fig 5,is a detail showing a front view of the right hand portion of Fig. 2with the front plate removed. Fig. 6, is a vertical sectional view onthe line y-4y of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 7,"is a sectional view of one of locking springs for the pressure rolls.Fig. 8, is a detail of one of the spool-supportingbrackets, showing there-winding mechanisms. Fig. 9, is a. plan view, partially in section. ofthe lower spool-supporting bracket showing the friction clutch therefor.

In carrying out my invention I prefer to follow the recognized course ofconstructing the picture-exhibit ing machine of two coacting thoughindependent parts, namely, the picture feeding proper, and the lump orother source of light.

The picture-feeding and projecting part of the apps.- ratus, and it isto this part that my improvements primarily relate, is fixed to asuitable base 1.

cfcrring now to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive it will be seen I that the usualstandard 2 is fixed to the base in any approved manner and contains theusual aperture 2 through which the picture is projected. The standardhas rigidly fixed to it the frame 3 in which the )r otary shutter andthe gearing and other operative parts of the machine are mounted, as Iwill hereinafter describe.

Across the upper portion of the standard 2 is journaled the shaft 4through which and suitable gearing, hereinafter described, motion istransmitted to the r0- tury shutter and other parts, suid shaft havingfixed t0 one end a. gcunwhoel 5 which meshes with a pinion 6, fixedto-zt trunsv'erseshaft 7 journuled in the sides of the farme 3. On theshaft 7 just outside of the pinion 6. is also fixed a bevel gear wheel 8which meshes with a bevel pinion t) fixed to a vertical shaft 10journaled in 9d hearings ll at the upper and lower snd intermediateports {IL one side of the fixed frzimc 3, suid vertical shaft J0 havingworms i2 12 fixed to its opposite ends, one of said worms, l2 meshingwith a worm gear 13 and the other worm meshing with 21. worm gear 13These worins'end worm gears operate the upper and lowerfilm-feedingdeviccs. The upper film fecding device compriscs theusuulshaft 14 and the two sprockets 15, the teeth of which are designed toengage the usual perfoi-utions, not shown, formed in the film 16 nearthe edges thereof. The film passes downward from its supply spool, whichI will hereinafter descrihe, and l beneath the sprockets 15, with whichit is hold in engugcmcnt by the pair of grooved rollers 16 mounted on atshort shaft 17, projecting from on arm 18 of a. rocking lever 19,journulcd in 21. bracket 20 projecting from the fr ame 3, said leverhaving it projecting member 21 which serves as a handle' by which it maybe operated.

and projecting apparatus 70 The grooved rollers 18' are held normally incontact with the film by means of a' spring means which in the presentinstance, Fig. 7, includes a block 22 slidably mounted in the hollowlever 21 and backed by a spring 23, said block adapted to press againsta flatten ed surface 24 on the shaft 17, to hold the lever 19 with therollers 16 pressing against the film; when thelever isturned'" incontact with said sprockets and being moved toward and from thesprockets by means of a rocking lever 28 similar to lever 19, and therollers being held normally in contact with the said film by a springmechanism similar to that shown in Fig. 7, and before described.

The upper and lower film-feeding devices are designed to have acontinuous motion and they operate in conjunction with an intermediatefilm-feeding mechanism' which has an intermittent motion. Thisintermediate film-feeding mechanism comprises a pair of sprocket wheels30 mounted on a transverse shaft 31 whose ends are journaled in thesides of a carriage 82 which is adapted to be vertically adjustedrelative to the fixed shutter-carrying frame 3, in or upon the lowerportion of which said carriage is movably mounted by means of verticalrods 33, fixed to said carriage and projecting above and below the sameand slid-ably fitting bearings 34 in the fixed frame 3.

The carriage has fixed to it a vertical rack-bar 35 which extends upalong the inside of the fixed frame 3, and the teeth of this rack-barare engaged by a toothed segment lltl fixed to a sleeve 37 turnably, butsnugly, fitting the main shaft 4, said sleeve having a rod or lever 38fixed to its outer end by which the sleeve and its segment may be turnedto operate the rack bar and raise and lower the carriage rclatiye to thefixed frame, which latter carries the rotary shutter.

To enable the carriage 32 to be adjusted 2'. e. raised or loweredrelative to the rotary shutter and without stopping the operation of themachine, I provide the vertical shaft 10 with a long spiral-gear 10, andI fix to the shaft 42 a spiral-gear 42 which meshes with the gcarlO andis adapted to m ve up and down on the gear 10 when the carriage israised and lowered, w thout disturbing the operative engagement of thesegears. Also, if desired and to facilitate the easy running of the spiralgear 42, I may supply said gear with a ball-bearing as shown; in factsuch bearings may be supplied for any of the gears and othcr parts, ifdesired.

The intermediate film-feeding devices are designed to havean-intermittent motion and this is effected by means of an ordinaryGeneva stop-wheel 39 mounted on the shaft of the sprocket wheels 30, anda driving'wheel 40bearing a single stud 41 for-engagement with saidstop-wheel. The drivingavheel and stopwheel are of well knownconstruction and operation, said drivingwheel being fixed to a shaft 42which turns in suitable bearings in the carriage, said shaft carryingthe usual fly-wheel 43 at one end and having a bcvelgcar wheel 44 fixedto its opposite end just inside of the carriage, which bevel-gear isdesigned to mesh with a similar gear-wheel 45 fixed to the lower end or"a short vertical sesame shaft 46 journaled on the carriage, said shafthaving loose thereon a bevelgcar wheel 47 which meshes with a similargear-wheel 48 on a shaft 49 arranged at right angles to the verticalshaft and having secured to it the rotaryshutter 50.

To enable the vertical shaft 46 and carriage to be moved verticallywithout disturbing the fixed relation of the shutter to the lightaperture, in orther words to allow the carriage to be raised and loweredrelative to the shutter for the purpose of centering the picture in theprojection aperture, I form a groove or key-way 51 in the vertical shaftand provide the bevel-gear with a spline or key 52 to engage saidkey-way and thus allow the shaft to slide freely through the gear 47without disturbing its relation to the companion gear 48.

In addition to the foregoing, the intermediate film feeding devicesinclude the grooved-wheels 53 adapted to maintain the film against thesprocket-wheels 30, and the rocking lever 54- which will he providedwith a spring means the arrangement and operation of which are the sameas before described for corresponding parts of the upper and lowerfilm-feeding devices.

The rotary shutter 50 is in the form. of a disk out of which is cut aplurality of segments-leaving one segment 55 practically uncut and rigidwith the rim 5G and the radial arms or spokes 57. The solid segmentofthe shutter I prefer to supply with numerous closelyarrangcdperforations which in conjunction with the radial arms of said shutterappear in practice to greatly reduce the variations in the light thrownupon the screen during the operation'of the apparatus, therebyeliminating much of the eye-strain and flickering which is ordinarilyexperienced by spectators viewing moving pictures. By leaving in theshutter such solid portions as the'segmcnt 55' and the radial arms, andperforating the said segment with numerous small holes, the flickeringeffect of the light is reduced by reducing the brilliancy of theillumination on the screen and by increasing the frequency of changes inthe illumination upon the screen. By lessening the brilliancy of thedisplay on the screen, the contrast between the appearance of the screenwhenthe light is cut-off and-when the picture is displayed thereon islessened and by increasing the frequency in the changes of theillumination on the screen the impressions on the retina are diminishedin intensity and pen sistcncc. I

The shutter operates transversely across the field of light projectedby-thele'ns, and said shutter and the film have a rapid movement toproduce on the eye of the spectator the impression of movement of thepeople or objects in the screens exhibited, in the manner well known inthis class of machines.

The stationary frame 3 has a rear plate 60 which is usually channeledand through this channel the film travels, passing across the usualprojection-aperture 61 formed in said plate, the movable carriage 32having a plate 62 between the sprocket-wheels 30 thereof which slides incontact with a corresponding portion of the rear plate 60; it is withreference to this fixed plate fill-that the carriage is movable becausethere is a decidcd advantage in keeping the projection-aperture 61 androtary shutter stationary and shifting the film relative thereto, as anymovement of the projection-aperture changes the position of the sightonthe screen and in shifting theiilmwhich I can readily do with mycarriage the picture is more quickly and satisfactorily con- 4 tercdrelative to said apcrt are and the shutter; a simple -movement of therod or lever 38 through the connections before described, will readilymore the carriage with the intermediate film-feeding devices up or downas occasion requires. i

At the back of the stationary frame 3 one izdge of ahorizontally-swinging plate or shutter 63 is hinged, said in contactwith the plate (53.

. The springs'li-E are flat pieccs of metal secured one. end to theoutside of the shutter 63 just below the top edge thereohsaid springplates thence passing over the top edge of the door and down along theinside of said shutter, and being slightly lowered, and having theirlower ends turned outward'and loosely passing through openings 66 formedthrough the door adjacent to the aperture therethrough. The springs (17are arranged at oppositesides of the aperture 64. They are continuousstrips whose opposite ends are passed outwardly through openings in thedoor, said ends being thence brought together and made to overlap andbeing secured to the door by a suitable fastening G8.

At the upper end of the standard 2 the upper spoolsupporting meansare'disposed, said means including a vertical bracket 70 having abayonet slot 71 adapted to receive a set-screw 72 which secures thebracket to the standard 2 or fixed part of the apparatus. In the upperend oitl re bracket 70 is journaled a shaft 73 carrying a pinion 74which meshes with a gear-wheel 75 on astubshaft 76 projecting from thebracket, said gear having a lever-arm 7 7 fix ed to it and provided witha handle 78 for operating said gear and through it and the pinionoperatingthe spool-shaft. The spool-shaft has fixed to it one end of alongitudinally-extending spring-plate 79 whose free end is formed orprovided with a latchme'mb'er 80 adapted to automatically engage anappropriate catch, as the edge of the shaft opening in the spool, whensaid spool is placed upon the shaft, thereby locking the spool to theshaft. A depression of the spring plate 79 to disengage itg latch 80from the'icatch member of the spool, enables the spool to be easilyremoved when desired. The spool-shaft carries a washer 81- against whichthe spool abuts and said shaft has a spline or key 82' which enters "akey-wayv i in the spool to lock the spool to the shaft.

To the underside of-the base plate l is secured the hori zontal brocket83 the construction of which issubstantially like that of the upperbracket in the outer end of this horizontal arm 83 is j ournal ed theshaft 84 for the lower spool 85, said shaft having the spring-plate 86with latch 87 for engaging the spool, as above explained. The lowerspool-shait,carries a pulley'88 against the inner face-of which pressesthe spring arms 89 of'a hub or sleeve 90 fitting said shaft and backingagainst a collar 91 thereon. 'The spring arms 89 bear against the pulley88 with suflicient friction to form therewith a clutch to maintain theproper tension on the film which is being wound on the spool, saidfriction pulley being arms may be varied at pleasure by an adjustingscrew 94 at the end of the shaft engaging a washer or plate 95 hearingagainst the hub of the pulley.

Various means may be used for operating the main shaft 4. As shown forpresent purposes, one means consists fa crank-handle 96 whose hubportion 97 has a socket to receive the end of the said shaft, said hubportion being formed with an incline slot 98 adapted to receive andinterlock with a pin 99 fixed to said shaft whereby the crank-handle andshaft are rigidly connected and the shaft is capable of being rotated ata h igh speed. On the main shaft is alsoa fixed friction washer 100 anda loose sleeve 10], from which latter projects a rod 102, said sleevebeing frictionally pressed against the washer by the hub of thecrank-handle when said handle is in operation, to turn the sleeve on theshaft and elevate the rod 102, but as soon as inward pressure upon thecrank-handle is removed, the weight of the rod 102 causes said rod todescend by gravityand assume substantially a. vertical position. Thisrod .102 is for the purpose of operating a closure or light cut-off,which consists of an impcrfol'ate plate 103 hinged at its upper edge tothe swinging shutter 63 and beinglightly springpressed, if desired. Theplate 103 has an arm 10% which projects outwardly into the range ofaction of the aforesaid rod 102, whereby when the crank-handle isoperated the rod 102 is lifted audit in turn engages the arm 104 andelevates the closure or cut-off 103 and maintains the latter elevatedduring the period the crankconnected by a band 02 with a pulley 03 onthe shaft 26 handlis in operation; if at any time or for any reasonsleeve 101 will be destroyed and the sleeve being now/ free to turnrelative to the handle, the rod 102 will drop therebyreleasing theclosure or cut-off 103 and causing it to close over the light-aperture6.4 and thus shut off the light through said aperture and prevent theheat from destroying or injuring the now stationary film.

. In the-lower part of the standard 2, are guide rollers I05, 106 forthe filin,'fon'e of these rollers, 106,- being spring-pressed to impartthe desired tension to the film as it is being fed to the windingroller, and when unwinding'andrewinding on the upper spool.

Having thus fully described my said invention what I claim as newanddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:- i I v 1. In apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination with the stationary portion of theframe having an aperture through which the picture is projected, and arotary shutter mounted on said stationary frame, of a carriageadjustable relative to said frame and to the'shuttor, and provided withfilm-feeding devices, means for operating the film-feeding devicesqsaidmeans including a long spiral gear on the frameand a spiral gear on thecarriage movable vertically over the first-named gear when the carriageis being adjusted, and means for adjusting the carriage to center thepicture relative to the projectionaperture of the stationary frame andto the shutter.

'iueaus for operating the illm-fecding devices, said means including along spiral gear on the frnrne and a spirui gear on the carriage movablevertically over the iii'stnamed xemnwhen the carriage in being adjusted,and means permitting the carriage to be adjusted during the movement ofthe film and without stopping the machine.

3. in apparatus of the character described, the combination with thestationuy part of the imme, having a projectionnperturc, and a rotaryshutter mounted in said frame. of a carriage separate from the frame andslidably guided thereon, filmfeeding devices mounted on the carriage,means for operating the illmieediag dev-lces 'pafib means includingalong spiral gear on the frame uni-a spiral gear on the carriage movablevertlcailyoyer the first-named gear when the carriage is being adjusted,and means for ralsing'and lolufring the carriage and its film feedingdevices relative to said shutter and to the projecnon-aperture of thefixed. frame, said means including a rack-bur connected to the carriageand an oscillating toothed segment engagingsaid bur.

41 in apparatus of the character described, the combination withthestationary portion of the frame, having a projection-aperture, and 'arotary shutter, a. main shaft, upper and lower .fllrn-feedlng devicesmounted on the stationury frame, and means for operating saidfilrn-feeding devices, of a. carriage slldubly mounted on the stationaryframe and adjustable relative to the projection-aperture thereof and tothe clutter, intermittent film-feeding mechanism mounted on tbccarrlage,and means including a flied vertical shaft having a spiral gear and aspiral gear on the carriage for operating the film-feeding devicesthereof, said last-named gear having, also, a slidable movement on thegear of the dated shaft to enable the carriage to be raised and loweredwithoutdisarranging the gears or stopping the motion oi." the apparatus.

in apparatus of the character described, the combina tion with astationary frame, having a projection-aperture,

a main shaft, a rotary shutter mounted in said frame.

means for operating the shutter, and upper nd lower filmfeeding devicesmounted on said frame, of a carriage slidabiy mounted on the frame andadjustable relative to the projection-aperture thereof and to theshutter, intermit-v tent film-feeding devices on the clrriagc,worm-gearing for operating the upper and lower fllm-feedlng devices, 1vertical shaft extending between the upper and lower film feedingdevices having a member of the worm-gearing fixed to its opposite ends,a spiral gear on said vertical shaft inter'medlate of the ends thereof,and a spiral gear connected to the intermediate film-feeding devices andarranged in mesh with the spiral gear of the vertical shaft and adaptedto move over the same when the carriage is raised or lowered. I

(3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of astationary frame having a projection-aperture, a rotary shutter mountedwithin said frame, a carriage vertically movable relative to thestationary framea'pd it; shutter, upper and lower tilmfeeding devices onthe stutionury frame, intermittent tilm-feedingdcvices mounted on thecarriage, means for operating the upper and' lower film-feeding devices,and means for operating the'intermlttent :llrnleedlug devices said lastmeans including a lon spiral-gear mounted to rotate on the stationaryframe in unison with the upper and lower film-feeding do --vlces, and F.spiral gear mounted on the carriage adapted to travel oversaid longgcarwbile in opemtive'mesh therewith.

7. In apparatus of the chn'i'ucter described, the combination of astationary frame, a main shaft mounted thereon, n vertical shaftjournuled at the side of the frame, upper and lower film-feeding devicesmounted on the frame. worm-gearing between the vertical shaft nnd theupper and lower film-feeding devices, gearing between the main shaft andthe vertical shaft, a rotary shutter mounted in the frame, a long spiralgear fixed to the vertlcal shaft, a carriage siidably mounted relativeto the frame and'to the rotary shutter, intermittently-operatingfilm-feeding devices mounted on the carriage, a spiral gear fproperating vthe intermittently film-feeding devices, slid gear meshingwith and adapted to move vertically over the long spiral gear when thecarriage is adjusted, andmeans for adjusting the carriage.

8. in upparutus of the churlcter described tiie combination of'tbcstationary frame having a projection-aperture, a rotary shutter mountedin said frame, a. carriage vertically shlftable relative to thestationary frame and its shuttercald carriage being provided withfilm-feeding devices, film-feeding devices also monntedon the stationaryframe, a main-shaftaud connections for operating said film-feedingdevices, said connections including a driven shaft mounted on thecarriage and lntermeshing spiral gears for operating the shuft, andconnections between said driven shaft the rotlry @liutter saidlast-named congearlng between said shaft and the drive shaft. a gearfixed to the shutter, and a gear loose on the vertical shaft andengaging the shutter gear, and a key and key-way con: nsctlon betweenthe vertical shaft and the loose gear udapted to allow the shaft to bemoved vertlmlly with the carriage without disturbing the portion of.the.rotury shutter.

9, ln apparatus of the character described the stationary main frame andthe carriage vertically 'adjustnble relative thereto, said main framehaving a rotary-climber and ,u projecti n-aperture, film-feeding device!on the mainframe und carriage, means for operating the shutter, saidinst-unified means including a vertical shaft fixed to the carriage andslidably guided on the etationaiw mainframe whereby it is raised-andlowered with the carriage, a driveirsbaft mounted horizontally on thecarriage, genring bet jeen the vertical and horizontal shafts, ahorizontai i bait for the shutter, a gear fixed to the shutter- Bliaftgq 11'. whereby the carriage with its film-feeding deoi the atationaryframeand to the shutter, for centering the picture substantially asdescribed. 10. In apparatus of the character described, the combinationwith a fiimcarrying spool, of u'shaft therefor. a spring having one endsecured to said shaft at :1 point, -'back of the end thereof, saidspring extending along the shaft and having its free end' exposed nearthe outer end of said shaft and provided with an off-set or catch whosewall is arranged substantially at right angles to the axis of the shaftand adapted to engage the edge of the shaft opening in the spool, tohold said spool to the shult.

in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

BoYD H. KELL R. Witnesses:

AUGUST Bwmwrn,

Gus .A. MEYER.

